Zero Budget: Komnas HAM Unable to Investigate Gross Human Rights Violation Cases

The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has assessed that the 2027 budget ceiling is insufficient to carry out the duties mandated by law, including the investigation of suspected gross human rights violations.

In fact, the budget allocation for investigating suspected gross human rights violations is set at Rp0 for 2027. This was stated by the Chairperson of Komnas HAM, Anis Hidayah, during a meeting with Commission XIII of the House of Representatives (DPR) in Jakarta on Tuesday (1/9).

Anis explained that for the upcoming 2027 period, her institution and the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) have been allocated a budget ceiling of Rp133.5 billion. Of this amount, the allocation for Komnas HAM is Rp94.23 billion, while Komnas Perempuan receives Rp39.30 billion.

“This budget is the same as the 2027 indicative ceiling for Komnas HAM with a budget structure that remains unchanged, namely there is no budget allocation for management support programme activities, for both Komnas HAM and Komnas Perempuan,” said Anis.

Anis detailed several Komnas HAM activities based on this budget ceiling. First, the handling of approximately 300 human rights violation complaints, with a budget of Rp461 million. Then, proactive complaints. According to Anis, these activities are usually conducted three to five times a year to reach communities that lack or have limited access to Komnas HAM.

“…‘Alhamdulillah’, this is 0 rupiah for next year,” she remarked.

Several activities that received no funding include the investigation of suspected gross human rights violations for three specific cases, which also received a Rp0 allocation. Furthermore, human rights situation monitoring for specific issues, as well as the handling of complaints and the management of archives for suspected gross human rights violations, also received no budget.

Anis stated that the disproportionate 2027 budget ceiling would impact several areas, including Komnas HAM’s inability to handle all human rights violation complaints comprehensively. “The impact we will face regarding the 2027 budget structure and its disproportionate ceiling is, firstly, that Komnas HAM will not be able to handle all human rights violation complaints, of which we receive an average of 3,000 complaints every year,” she said.

Additionally, proactive complaints in various regions cannot be conducted. This will lead to limited reach, monitoring, and field mediation, resulting in the handling of human rights cases losing depth in factual verification and timeliness in processing emergency situations.

“The investigation of suspected gross human rights violations for cases already established in the Komnas HAM plenary session cannot be carried out,” she added.

During the session, Anis requested additional budget allocations for both Komnas HAM and Komnas Perempuan. “The additional funds we are requesting for 2027 are Rp99.3 billion for Komnas HAM and Rp14.9 billion for Komnas Perempuan. Therefore, the total amount we are proposing for Komnas HAM and Komnas Perempuan is Rp247 billion,” she concluded.